Parent Link Centre celebrates 12 years of family programming

Staff at the Parent Link Centre invited local families to come out and celebrate the centre’s 12th birthday on Monday, February 13. Families who attended the party enjoyed cupcakes and a morning of family activities.

The Wainwright Parent Link Centre (PLC) threw a party to celebrate 12 years of providing activities and programming to local families on Monday, February 13. Several families visited the PLC to partake in the celebration, indulge in a birthday cupcake and enjoy some play time.

PLC program coordinator Penny De Marsh says the event gave the staff an opportunity to recognize their accomplishments over the years, and it was nice to have a chance to look back on how far they’ve come since the centre opened and began providing services to local families 12 years ago.

“I think it’s quite an accomplishment being a centre and being open for 12 years, and to have our Alberta Government funding for those 12 years as well. I think the success is shown in the number of families that have come through the centre and continue to keep the centre open,” said De Marsh.

“I think they do keep coming back because of the programs we offer, and they’re able to see the benefits of it for themselves as parents. We definitely enjoy providing the programming and seeing the families coming to the centre each morning.”

Ashley Elder, a local mother of two, has been visiting the PLC on a weekly basis since the birth of her first child. She says the PLC has been a major support system for her as a parent, and she was happy to participate in their 12th birthday celebration on Monday.

“I’ve been coming to the Parent Link Centre for two years now, and I probably come once a week or more. I couldn’t imagine if we didn’t have it. Things wouldn’t be as easy, and some days when I feel like I want to cry I come here and Penny makes me feel better or reassures me on my parenting,” said Elder.

“I’ve met so many mom friends and a good strong community through here and I don’t know what I’d do without it. I think a lot of moms feel that way about it. It’s so important.”